22 Day: Cape to Kalahari

Journey on a magnificent and unforgettable tour through the Northern Cape of South Africa. This tour offers a perfect mix of culture, nature and relaxation! During this tour you will experience true wilderness, and see a new and exciting side to South Africa. Please read on to see what this undiscovered paradise can offer you!

Summary

Start off in cosmopolitan Cape Town to explore Robben Island, Table Mountain and penguins at Cape Point. Then enjoy a desert safari experience in the Kalahari, guided 4x4 excursions in the Richtersveld, wine tasting, boat cruises on the Orange River, interactions with Bushmen, gorgeous landscapes in the Cederberg Mountains, and unforgettable views of Augrabies Falls. In spring and winter you can also witness a fantastic display of the Namaqualand flowers!

TOUR TYPE

Self-drive or guided

PRICE

From ZAR 30300 per person

FOCUS

Culture, safari, and scenery

NUMBER OF DESTINATIONS

10

MALARIA RISK

None

Key highlights

Itinerary

Here at Tailor Made Safaris, we will happily adjust the itinerary below should you wish to see any changes. Of course, it is possible to add some days or take some out, and don't forget to take a look at our add-ons! ​Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this tour.

Day 1: Arrival in Cape Town

Today you will arrive at Cape Town International Airport and journey to your accommodation for the next few nights. Depending on your time of arrival, more activities can be planned for this afternoon or you may prefer to simply relax at your comfortable guesthouse.

Day 2: Robben Island

What about visiting Robben Island today, the famous island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison? You will participate in an extensive tour of the island and learn about what happened here during those years. In 1997 they built an interesting museum on site, which is well worth visiting. The whole island is a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site.

Day 3: Table mountain and v&A waterfront

Today you will visit the famous Table Mountain and can choose to walk to the top or catch the cable car up. Once at the top, you can spend a few hours exploring and enjoying the magnificent views. Then you will visit the V&A Waterfront, where you can enjoy the bustle of the harbour and shops, visit the Two Oceans Aquarium or just relax at one of the many restaurants on the terraces

Day 4: Cape Point Tour

You will discover the Cape the Good Hope today by means of a beautiful tour. This tour includes the following destinations: Muizenberg, Simon’s Town, Noordhoek, Hout Bay, Cape Point (with time for a walk in Table Mountain National Park). If you are a wine lover, a visit to Klein Constantia Wine Farms should also be considered. Try the absolute world-famous and delicious ‘Vin de Constance’

Day 5: Travel to Langebaan, relax and explore the lagoon

This morning you will travel the short distance to the small coastal town of Langebaan, where its time to relax a little and enjoy this beautiful area. Langebaan and the lagoon area is home to more than a third of South Africa’s salt marshes and is teaming with wildlife. The town is renowned for its water sports, with kite surfing, water skiing and kayaking all available on the lagoon. Or maybe this afternoon you would like to visit one of the 2 bird hides on the lagoon shore, to see how many of the 250-recorded species you can spot. For those interested in Mountain biking and exploring our prehistoric past the West Coast Fossil Park is well worth visiting.

Day 6: Visit the West Coast National Park

Today you can explore the West Coast National Park and relax on the beach. The park surrounds the Langebaan Lagoon and has some beautiful golden beaches, surrounded by the salt marshes that are home to many migrant wading birds. Many mammal species are also found in the park, including Eland, Red Hartebeest, caracal and rock hyrax. There are several animal-viewing hides in the park, as well as areas where you can stop and enjoy the view or a picnic! Be sure to keep a look out for Dolphins and Whales passing by along the coastline.

Day 7: Travel to Clanwilliam, explore the Cederberg Wilderness Area

You will travel to the picturesque town of Clanwilliam in the beautiful Cederberg Mountains today. You can stop along the way and visit one of the citrus or rooibos farms the area is famous for. This afternoon you can choose to hire a canoe or mountain bike and explore the area around Clanwilliam. There are many activities and scenic drives and hikes that can be done from Clanwilliam. In flower season the Cederberg has some of the most impressive displays, with a wide variety of flowers due to the varying landscapes and ecosystems. For those looking for something a little different there is even a donkey cart excursion from the top of Pakhuis pass!

Day 8: Rock Art tour and sunset drive

This morning we suggest that you join a guided tour of the local rock art sites with a guide from the Living Landscape Project. The Living Landscape project is an inspiring community-tourism initiative where local people have been trained as guides. The project is based at a former school and the centre also has many local crafts, which are produced by local people. The guide will take you to four different sites, depending on the time that you have. This afternoon you can take a scenic sunset drive to Soldier’s Head on Pakhuis Pass to enjoy the stunning views and beautiful skies as the sun sets.

Day 9: Travel to Namaqualand

Today you will move on towards the dry Namaqualand. An area that is famous for its gorgeous flower blooms during the spring (July till September). Upon arrival you will settle into a peaceful and remote villa. You can take a walk through the park at your accommodation or you can go to the Goegap Nature Reserve. You can see zebra, gemsbok, and klipspringer at Goegap or simply relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Namaqualand. If you are visiting the Northern Cape in spring you can enjoy the colourful beauty of the flower blooms that stretch as far as the eye can see!

Day 10: Namaqualand – Namaqua Nature Reserve (Only have this extra day in flower season)

July through to September this park bursts into life with a magnificent display of flowers. Today is your chance to discover this semi desert landscape at its best, with over 3500 plant species, 1000 of which cannot be found anywhere else. There is a circular drive that you can follow, allowing perfect viewpoints along the way and a number of short trails that you can walk. There are also several picnic sites on the route. Whilst in the park keep a look out for the world’s smallest tortoise, the Namaqua Speckled Padloper.

Day 11: Relaxation at Port Nolloth

From your accommodation near Springbok you will leave for Port Nolloth, which is located on the coast. Here you can relax and prepare for your exciting Richtersveld tour. Maybe you would like to take a walk on the beach or explore Port Nolloth a little bit. Or maybe you will simply relax with a good book? The choice is yours.

Day 12: Desert mountain tour

The next 2 days you will go on a 4x4 tour through the Richtersveld ‘desert mountains’ with a local guide and a tough four wheel drive vehicle of course! This guide will drive you to Sendelingsdrift today which lies on the border between South Africa and Namibia. Through Alexander Bay you will enter the Richtersveld desert mountain park where your guide will tell you everything about the park and show you the most interesting and splendid sights. And to end the day you will enjoy a typical and delicious South African ‘braai’.

Day 13: Desert mountain tour

From Sendelingdrift the guide will drive you back towards Port Nolloth. But not without learning even more about the flora, fauna and ecosystem of this area. You’ve got a specialist guide with you after all, and he delights in telling you about all the special adaptations the plants have developed in order to survive in such an arid area! Your guide will also be able to tell you about the history of the park and he will of course show you more phenomenal views of the landscape throughout the day.

Day 14: Augrabies Falls National Park

After an unforgettable time in Richtersveld it’s time for the next exciting experience. One of the best sights in the Northern Cape has to be Augrabies Falls. This waterfall, at 56 meters high, produces a huge thundering noise as the water cascades over and crashes onto the rocks beneath. This is where it gets its name from ‘Aukoerebis’ means ‘place of the loud noise’ in the Bushmen language. You will stay in the park, in your own chalet walking distance from the falls.

Day 15: Augrabies Falls National Park

The falls are not the only highlight of this park. The park will thrill you further with beautiful views of the gorge that the Orange River has carved over time and also contains a huge number of animals. Today you can choose from a number of activities in the park. You can walk one of the hiking trails or explore the park further. Or maybe you would like to book a day- or night safari, or even go rafting on the Orange River! Did you know leopard are often seen on night safari’s here?

Day 16: Molopo Lodge

Today you travel towards the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. You will stay at Molopo Lodge where you can rest and prepare for the next few days of safari. After lunch, you'll join an excursion to learn about the San Bushmen that still live in the Northern Cape. During this tour you will learn how to shoot bow & arrow the bushman way, as well as much about their culture and daily lives. A tasty meal at the lodge this evening and it's off to bed in anticipation of tomorrow!

Day 17: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Now we’re talking safari time! Today you will enter the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The habitat of leopard, cheetah, giraffe, hyena, bat-eared fox and so many more. But what the park is most famous for is the Kalahari lion. Here there are 400 to 500 of these magnificent creatures. The male lions are incredible and a sight that you will never forget. Compared to other lions in Africa they look much bigger because of their incredible black manes that protect them from overheating.

Day 18: Kgalagadi transfrontier park

Your second day in the Kgalagadi starts at daybreak. You can try to find the animals that you haven’t seen yet and explore the park further. Maybe you would like to explore the park at night on a night drive? It will definitely give you many memorable moments with the nocturnal residents of the park, such as the leopard, hyena, bat-eared foxes, porcupines, genets and bush babies.

Day 19: Kgalagadi transfrontier park

This is your last day in the park, so try to get as much out of it as possible. You will explore places that you haven’t been to yet and we hope that you will see all of the animals that you haven’t seen before, especially the magnificent lions. The Kgalagadi is also renowned for its plentiful raptor sightings. Chanting goshawks, various species of eagle, secretary birds etc. You have a good chance of seeing many raptors whilst here!

Day 20: Kanoneiland, Bezalel Wine & Brandy Estate

After exciting desert mountain tours and almost a week on safari, it is time to close the holiday off with something different. Today you will head west, towards Kanoneiland. In and around Kanoneiland there are a number of incredible and enjoyable places to visit. The area is known for its great wines and delicious food. You will be travelling past a lot of vineyards and also a lot of ‘padstals’ (Pad means road and stal means a small shop), which are very nice to visit. Apart from enjoying your stay in ‘The African Vineyard’, you will also visit the Bezalel Wine & Brandy Estate today, where you will find out how they make the specialty wines and brandy. And get to know how they taste of course!

Day 21: Relaxation at Kanoneiland

Today you have a day where you can choose what to do. You could visit Riemvasmaak where the ancient Nama people will share their history and culture with you, and where you also can relax in the hot springs. Or would you prefer some excitement on the water? In that case you can visit the water-ski school, or canoe on the Orange River. What we definitely recommend is enjoying some of the local delicacies at ‘The African Vineyard’. Here you will join a so-called ‘Food & Wine Pairing’ where you will be served a stunning six-course dinner, with matching wines.

Day 22:Kanoneiland – Upington –Johannesburg/Cape Town

Today you will leave the Northern Cape after 21 days of wonderful experiences and adventures. You will make the short drive to Upington from where you fly back to Cape Town or Johannesburg, from where you will head home.

Please note: Accommodation can potentially differ from the establishments mentioned in this itinerary (if fully booked). In such cases we will look for suitable and similar accommodation. Any changes will be discussed with you. We can only book accommodation after you have confirmed your booking with us.

The European ANVR Travel and Booking Terms & Conditions apply to your booking with us. For full details, click here.

Price Overview

Self-drive tour

Price per person:

With 2 persons

With 4 persons

With 6 persons

With 8 persons

Priced​from

R 41500

R 32100

R 30300

R 30400

For the most recent exchange rate see www.XE.com.Prices are partly dependent on which type of rental vehicle you choose. For more information about car rentals, click here.

​Included in the car rental is the Super Cover insurance with zero liability and unlimited kilometres. Not included are the following fees though, which will be charged to your credit card upon collecting the vehicle:

AVIS contract fee: ZAR 85 (once off)

Additional driver fee: ZAR 385

Fuel: cost of refuelling if the car is not handed in full

One-way fee (if the car is returned to a different location from where it was picked up): Between ZAR 869-1177 depending on distance)

If the car is handed in late you will be charged an extra day of rent

These costs cannot be paid by us and therefore will be charged on your credit card by AVIS. AVIS also requires a refundable rental deposit (between ZAR 3500-4000). This sum will be taken off your credit card at the beginning of your trip and if all is well it will be deposited back into your account at the end. For renting a vehicle the driver must be over 18 years old and must have had a valid drivers licence for over a year, which must be valid for at least a year at the start of the rental period, and a valid passport and credit card. Please note that without a credit card, you cannot rent a car! ​​